Collapsible a-frame structure for shovels, cranes, or the like



Jan. 9, 1940.- s. B. ELGH' 2,

COLLAPS IBLE A-FRAME STRUCTURE FOR SEOVELS, CRANES, OR THE LIKE Filed March 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 COLLAPSIBLE A-FRA ME STRUCTURE FOR SHOVELS, CRANES, 0R THE LIKE Tia-i Filed March 11, 193

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I i gmwm' GL4. drama 5 [2671.

Patented Jan. 9,1940 I UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE A-FRAME STRUCTURE FOR SHOVELS, CRANES, OR. THE LIKE Stanley B. Elgh,

Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Koeln'ing Company, Milwaukee, Wis a comration Application March 11, 1936, Serial No. 88,316

' 9 Claims. (Cl. 212-59) machine structure a so-called A-frame, over the 5 upper portion of which certain of the operating cables of the machine by which the elevation of the boom and operation of other mechanism of the machine is accomplished are trained. Upon the height of the A-frame aforesaid largely'del pends the maximum height or elevation to which the booms of different types of machines aforesaid may be raised for performing their" customary functions.

It is desirable that the A-frame structure of 15 the machine be designed so as to be as low as possible in order that the excavating machine in travel may pass underneath relatively low bridges or other obstructions. On .the other hand, since the height of the A-frame is required to be varied 0 for different lengths of booms, and, by reason of the necessity of elevation of these different lengths of booms to various heights, it is desirable to provide some kind of A-frame construction that will accommodate such variation of boom heights in 8B the practical use of the machine.

Heretofore, it has been necessary, where different lengths of booms are used beyond certain maximums, that the A-frame structure of the machine be designed especially for the accommo 80 dation of the particular length of boom, and

' machines have been constructed under such conditions with A-frames of such heights that they must be shipped or must travel with the A-frame removed or taken down, the same later to be re- 88 erected or set up,

troublesome, times-taking and, expensive operation, especially if the work hasto be done out onthe field away from the factory.

The primary object of this invention has been 40' to do away with the difficulties heretofore experienced along the above lines, by providing what may be characterized as a combination A- frame structure wherein there are used a main or low-A-fram'e having associated therewith a 45 high or auxiliary A-frame. The high A-frame is preferably carried by the'low A-frame in sucha manner that when the low A-frame-is employed the auxiliary A-frame is out of use and out of the way, but the arrangements of theinvention 60 as herein set forth are such that the high'or auxiliary A-frame may be very quickly and easily set up in operative position in relation to the low A-frame so that if an elevation of the boom greater than that permitted by the use of the .7; low frame is desired, as for handling a particular all of; which makes for a- J'ob, the advantage of the high frame may be obtained very quickly. Likewise, the same is true when the high A-frame is required to be used upon the substitution of a long boom for a shorter boom on the crane, or when the crane is equipped with a much longer boom than is designed to be ,used when the low A-frame structure is availed An object of the invention resides in the designing of the main and auxiliary A-frames re- 10 ferred to in such a way that the hoisting mechanisms of the crane may be availed of for the handling of the high A-frame as for elevating the same to its operative position ready to be used, and for facilitating the lowering of said frame, thereby not necessitating the employing of separate machinery for this purpose, something required heretofore because of the weight of the parts of A-frames according to previous designs.

Another object of the invention may be said 0 to comprise the designing of the frame hereof in such a manner that it may be quickly converted from a low A-irame type of machine to a high A-frame type of machine, permitting of the employmentupon a single unitary machine of differ- 2 out lengths of booms and permitting the varia-v tion in the elevated or working height of any boom with which the machine is equipped. The standard power actuated parts of the machine are availed of, as previously suggested, in the manipu- 80 lation of the auxiliary A-frame utilized, in rendering same operative or collapsing the same to cause it to assume an inactive position, under which conditions the low A-frame is resorted to for lowering or elevating the peak of the boom 85 associated with the crane body. 7

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which 40 Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation of the stationary A-frame of a shovel, crane, or the like, provided withan auxiliary collapsible high vA- frame,-a portion of the turntable and side frame being also illustrated in this figure to show the location of the parts more-clearly. v

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the stationary high A-frame as illustrated in Figure l, the view being taken in the direction of arrows 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view of a portion of the compression members of the high A-frame, taken 1 in the direction of the arrows 33 of Figure 1, illustrating more clearly the position of the spacer 1 sheave tions, as outlined abov member and cable connections of the high A- frame.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the high A frame in collapsed position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a shovel showing more clearly the position of the high A-frame with respect to the other structure of the machine, the high A-frame being shown in collapsed position.

Referring to the drawings, and especially to Figures 1 to 3, and 5, A indicates the stationary A-frame as employed in shovels, cranes, or like excavating machinery, which comprises the rear A-frame or tension members I and 2 which are connected by the lower A-frame shaft 3 to compression members ,4 and 5 in a manner clearly shown in Figure 5. The ends of the tension and compression members opposite the lower A- frame shaft 3 are connected to the turntable 6 of the machine at I and 8, as will be obvious from Figure 1. In this manner a rigid and stationary A-frame structure is provided to form a support for a sheave 9 over which the boom hoist cable It is trained. One end of the boom hoist cable III is connected to boom hoist drum II mounted on shaft I2 and provided with a boom hoist clutch I3 to permit operation of the boom hoist cable drum I I for winding the boom hoist cable to effect raising and lowering of the boom B of the machine.

Mounted upon shaft I2 is a rear hoist drum I4 to which the dipper hoist cable I5 is connected, and usual clutching instrumentalities are provided for the rear hoist drum I4 to effect the operation of the same for raising or lowering the dipper stick.

The above structure represents the conventional structure employed in excavating ma- 'chinery today, and it will be seen that the position of the sheave 8 with regard to the boom pivot point C cannot be varied in view of the stationary arrangement of the A-frame A, and, in the event a long boom is used in connection with mechanlsm described herein, it will be necessary to provide a machine with an A-frame of a higher construction to permit the desired height of lift for the boom. Such higher A-frame construction, however, extends considerably above the remaining parts of the machine and will prevent passing of the machine other ,obstructions. It was therefore necessary heretofore to disconnect such high A-frame to permit the machine to pass underneath obstruc- To overcome the above difliculties, I provide a stationary low A -frame construction A, as referred toabove, lapsible auxiliary as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. The auxiiiary A-frame D comprises rear frame members or tension members I5 and I1, and compression members I3 and I9. The members I6 and I1, and I8 and I9, are pivotally connected by an upper A-frame shaft 20. The opposite ends of the tension members I6 and I! are pivotally connected to the lower frame shaft 3 which forms a part of the lower A-frame structure A as previously described. The free ends I80. and Isa of the compression members I8 and I9 are connected to compression guide members 2I' by which is provided with a colmeans of pins 22. The compression guide me bers 2| are secured to and form a part of the compression members 4 and 5 of the lower A-frame A.

The upper frame shaft is provided with a 23 for the boom hoist cable, and an A- underneath low bridges or or high A-frame structure D, 1

frame yoke 24 pivotally connected to the'upper frame shaft 20 is arranged to carry a sheave 25 for the reception of other portions of the boom hoist cable, the free end of which is secured to the auxiliary or high A-frame, as clearly seen at 5 26 in Figure 5. While the A-frame yoke of the auxiliary A-frame D, as seen in Figure 5, is provided with a single cable sheave 25, the yoke member 24, as shown in Figure 1, is provided with another cable sheave 21 which is utilized in case the auxiliary A-frame is used in connection with a crane.

Arranged between the compression members I8 and I9 is a spacer 'member 28 secured to brackets 29 and 3|] welded to the aforesaid compression members. The spacer member 28 maintains the compression members I8 and I3 in properly spaced relation in regard to each other when the same are disconnected from the compression guide members 2I. A cable 3I-is connected to the spacer member 28 and the compression members I8 and I3 as clearly seen at 32 and 33 in Figure 3 to form a loop to which an A-fram'e hoist cable 34 is connected, for purposes explained later on. I

When the auxiliary A-frame D is arranged in the position shown in Figure 1, the boom hoist cable I0 will extend from the hoist cable drum II over sheaves 3 and 23, as clearly seen in Figure 1, and with the parts in this position a longer boom may be employed in connection with this machine, while the height of lift of the same is not reduced, which would be the case if a low A- frame were employed. If it is desirable to operate the machine only with the low A-frame A in operation, or if the machine is to be passed underneath low obstructions, the high A-frame D may be collapsed in a manner apparent from the following description.

The boom B of the machine is lowered until 40 the bucket mounted on the dipper stick touches the ground and supports the boom. Now a portion of the rear end I5 of the dipper hoist cable I 5 is removed from the rear drum I4 by taking off several turns of the rear end of the cable I5. as The free end of cable 34 connected to the compression members I8 and I9, previously described, is swung around the right-hand portion of the drum I4 several times, from which a portion of cable I5 has been removed, and the end of the cable 34 is now anchored by means of anchor I5 to drum I4. The slack in cable 34 is now taken upby rotating drum I4, and the pins 22, which secure the compression members I8 and I9 to the compression guide member whereupon cable 34 is released from drum It by unwinding the same therefrom upon release of the brake of said drum. The auxiliary or high A-frame D will thereupon collapse to the position shown in Figure 4. The sheave 23 will 00 thereby be moved out of contact with the boom hoist cable I0, as clearly seen from this latter figure. Upon completion of the lowering of the frame, the end of the cable 34 attached to rear drum I4 is now disconnected therefrom. 38

The boom B may now be raised and the dipper stick and bucket operated in the usual manner, and in view of the fact that the high A- frame D is now in its lower position, and the over-all height of the machine is materially reduced, thesame may now be passed underneath low bridges or other obstructions, or the machine may be operated with the low A-frame, in the same manner as when the auxiliary or high A-i'rame D was in operative positio however,

2|, are removed,

, 2,186,872 the height of lift of the boom will now of course be considerably reduced.

It should here be noted that when the brake mechanism of the dipper hoist cable drum has sion member guides 2| and in this way manual labor to free the compression members It and H from their respective compression member l8 and I9 slide upon the upper and immediately guides is entirelyeliminated.

.Supporting brackets 35 and 36 are provided on the compression members 4 and 5 of the low A- frame to limit the downward movement of the tension members It and ll of the auxiliary A- frame and to support the latter in a position sub? stantially parallelto the upper surface of the turntable 6.

After the obstruction has been passed, or if a higher lift of the boomis desirable, the auxiliary A-frame may be again raised to operative position, as will be described in the following:

The free end of cable 34 is again connected to the right-hand side of drum M by means of anchor l5", and upon rotation of drum |4 cable 34 is woundupon said drum, thereby raising the auxiliary'frame D from its lowered position to its raised position until the compression members surface of the compression member guides 2| to which they may be secured by inserting pins 22.

After collapsing the auxiliary frame, as previously described herein, and after disconnection of cable 34 from drum l4, the machine may be operated with the lower A -frame in position for performing the hoisting functions of the boom and dipper stick. However, if the machine is only to be passed underneath some obstruction used after passing the same, with the auxiliary frame in operative position, cable 34 need not be disconnected from drum .|4, as the raising operation of the auxiliary A-frame will have to be performed as soon as the obstruction is passed. In such case the boom, which is supported by lowering the bucket to the ground, as previously mentioned, may be raised out of contact with the ground by operating boom hoist cable drum H and after the obstruction has been passed it will be necessary to unwind a portion of the boom hoist cable III to permit the raising of the auxiliary A-frame as hereinbefore described.

A sheave 40 mounted on the lower A-frame shaft 3 is provided for supporting the cable 34 in position above the connecting member 3|, as clearly seen in Figure 1, as is'necessary for permitting a raising or lowering of the auxiliary frame, as set forth above.

The horizontal guide portions 2|a of members 2| extend somewhat forwardly of the points of connection 8 between the turntable structure 6 and the compression members 4 and 5 of the lower A-frame so as to guide the compression members It and I9 upon collapsing of the auxiliary A- frame, thereby not to interfere with any parts of the lower A-frame and turntable structure, as

clearly seen from Figures 4 and 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a crane of the class described, in combination, a crane body, a boom pivoted thereto for raising and lowering' movement, hoistcable 5 mechanism for raising and lowering the boom carried by the body, a combination A-frame structure on the body including a low A-frame and a high A-frame superposed upon the low A-frame,

both the low A-frame and the high A-frame havo ing means to cooperate with the hoist cable means aforesaid, and means for supporting the high A-frame in a high operative position relatively to and on the low A-frame, and for supporting said high A-frame in a collapsed or in- 15 operative position on the low A-frame. 2. In acrane of the class described, in combination, a crane body, a boom pivotally mounted thereon, hoist means for raising and lowering said boom, an A-frame structure cooperating go with said hoist..means and carried by the body and comprising a stationary part and a superposed collapsible part, means for establishing cooperation between either the stationary part or the superposed collapsible means, operating mechanism on the body for cooperation with excavating means carried by the boom, and instrumentalities operable by the last mentioned means for raising the superposed A-frame to an operative position on its associated .30

A-frame.

3. In a crane of the class described, "in combination, a crane body, a boom pivotally mounted on said body, an A-frame structure comprising a main A-frame stationary on the body, an auxiliary collapsible A-frame structure pivotally mounted on said main A-frame, removable means between the main A-frame and the collapsible 'A-frame for holding said collapsible A-frame inpart and the hoist g5 raised position, and instrumentalities cooperative a with the main collapsible A-fr'ame and boom for raising and lowering the collapsible A-frame.

4. In a crane of the class described, in combination, a crane body, a boom pivotally mounted on said body, an A-frame structure comprising a a main A-frame stationary on the body, an auxiliary collapsible A-frame structure 'pivotally' .mounted on said main A-frame, removable means between the main A-hame and the collapsible A-frame for holding said collapsible A-frame in raised position, instrumentalities cooperative with the main A-frame and boom for raising and lowering the collapsible A-frame, and means for controlling collapsing of the collapsible A'-frame under its own weight upon removal of said rea movable means to enable the collapsible A-frame to assume an inoperative position out of cooperation with said instrumentalities.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 4, combined with guiding means on the main A-frame cooperating with the collapsible A+frame for guiding the latter with respect to its movement relatively to the main A-frame.

6. In a crane of the class described, in combination, a crane body, a boom movably mounted a thereon, a main A-frameon the body, a collapsible A-frame on the body, means supporting the collapsible A-frame on the main A-frame, and hoisting means for raising and lowering the boom cooperative with either the main A-frame or the o collapsible A-frame, together with means for holding the collapsible A-frame in an operative position on the main A-frame when said hoisting means coacts with the collapsible A-frame.

7. In a crane of the class described, in combination, a crane body, for raising and lowering the boom, comp cable instrumentalities connected with the boom, a main frame having a sheave to guide the cable instrumentalities, and an adjustable A-frame structure associated with the main frame and also having a sheave to guide the cable instrumentalities, whereby through variation in the height of the A-frame, variation in the height of the adjustment'of the movement of the boom may be effected, and supporting means for the adjustable A-frame to hold the same elevated so its sheave will guide the cable instrumentalities, said supporting means being operable to allow lowering of the adjustable A-frames to a position with its cable sheave not guiding the cable means.

8. In a crane of the class described, in combination, a crane body, a boom thereon designed to have the boom peak thereof raised and lowered for the purpose described, hoisting instrumentalities for said boom, to peak the same up and down, comprising cable means, and alternatively usable structures on the crane body cooperative with the said cable, and means for adjusting the position of such structures vertically whereby to vary the maximum amount of lifting of the boom as may be required by varying conditions of service, such as require different elevations of the boom to enable the crane to perform effective work, the alternatively usable structures including a rigid main A-frame having sheave means to coact with the cable means, and an auxiliary A-frame structure having sheave means adapted to be shifted into and out of engagement relative a boom thereon, means.

to the cable means by which the boom peak is raised and lowered.

9. In a crane of the class described, in combination, a crane body, a boom thereon designed to have the boom peak thereof raised and lowered for the purpose described, hoisting instrumentalities for said boom to peak the same up and down, comprising cable means, and alternatively usable structures on the crane body cooperative withthe said cable, and means for adjusting the position of such structures vertically whereby to vary the maximum amount of lifting of the boom as may be required by varying conditions of service, such as require different elevations of the boom to enable theorem to perform eflective cable means-to increase the maximum lift of the v boom when the cable means is cooperating with the sheave means of the auxiliary A-frame, and means to hold the auxiliary A-frame stationary when elevated.

STANLEY B. ELGH. 

